Handle for nestable cups



Oct. 6, 1964 F. L. MEAGHER 3,151,798

HANDLE FOR NESTABLE CUPS Filed July 25, 1965 United States Patent f3,151,798 HANDLE FOR NESTABLE CUPS Frederick Lawrence Meagher,Blairstown, N.J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New Jersey Filed July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 296,990 6Claims. (Cl. 229-) This invention relates to a cup handle, and moreparticularly to a substantially rigid handle for disposable drinkingcups that is both adhesively and mechanically secured to the cup.

Since the beginning of the paper cup industry, there has beensubstantially only one handle available on hot drink paper cups at theconsumer level. This handle has been the conventional adhesively bondedpaper one, which generally lies flush with the cup body wall and isextended for gripping when the filled cup is lifted.

One of the principal reasons for using this paper handle and not a rigidone is the low cost necessary for a single use disposable container.Another, and probably equal problem, has been the necessity for the cupsto be nestable in order to minimize the space occupied during storage,shipment and use.

The shape of a cup handle is traditionally recognizable all over theworld, and all peoples realize at a glance how to grip or grasp it.However, this is not necessarily true of the foldable flush type paperhandle. It has been found that many people do not recognize how to openup a paper handle, while others do not care to be bothered, and othersconsider a paper handle more useful closed as an insulation against thehot beverage in the cup.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lowcost easily manufactured handle for disposable cups.

It is another object of this invention to provide a handle for a papercup which is stronger than the conventional paper handle presently usedon disposable cups.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a handle fordisposable paper cups that is not susceptible to weakening in thepresence of moisture.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a handle fordisposable cups that permits the cups to be nested within one another tominimize the space necessary for shipping and storage, including storagewithin an automatic vending machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a handle for disposablepaper cups that will allow the user to grip the handle without exposinghis fingers to the cup wall and any hot potable liquid containedtherein.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a handle fordisposable cups having low heat conductivity.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

The above objects are accomplished by providing a handle for attachmentto a disposable cup, whose brim is formed with an outwardly rolled bead.The handle has a substantially rigid pad adapted to lie along and beadhered to the outer surface of the cup body. The upper end of the padterminates in an upwardly extending hook which is adapted to fit betweenthe upper end of the body and the inner portion of the rolled bead.Below the hook is a bridge, joining the pad to the upper end of ahand-gripping extension which projects laterally from the pad anddownwardly from the bridge. The handgripping extension is adapted to begrasped, without the hand coming into contact with the cup While holdingthe handle.

3,151,798 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the handle, partly in section, showingthe relationship of the handle to the disposable cup;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handle;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a plurality of nested cups havinghandles attached thereto; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of the inventionillustrating a downwardly depending element for increasing the stabilityof the handle when lifting a filled cup.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1shows a handle, generally designated 10, having a handle pad 12terminating at its upper end in an upwardly extending hook 14, the pad12 and hook 14 being secured to a cup 15.

An outer surface 16 of the handle pad 12, as shown in FIG. 2, is concavein shape and conforms to an outer surface 17 of a cup body wall 18. Thepad surface 16 is adhesively secured to the cup body wall 18 by means ofa suitable adhesive. It is preferred that this adhesive will not beweakened by heat, such as will be present when the cup 15 is filled witha hot liquid. Resistance to weakening by the action of moisture is alsodesirable since, on occasion, the exterior of the cup will be wet.

Among the adhesives that may be used for securing the handle pad 12 tothe cup body wall 18 are cured epoxy resins such as an epoxy-vinylacetate copolymer, casein latex, and polyesters. Any adhesive that willsecure the material from which the handle 10 is made to the paper of thecup 15 will be adequate. It is generally preferred that the handle 10 bemade of an inexpensive plastic such as polystyrene, or a foamed plastic,although it may be made of any number of materials that will provideadequate strength for the purpose, without being prohibitive in cost.

The upwardly extending, and slightly curved hook 14 fits between anupper end 19 of the body 18 and an inner portion 20 of a rolledperipheral head 22 which forms the brim of the cup 15. If desired, anadhesive may be employed to secure the hook 14 in position, althoughthis may not be necessary, due to the mechanical gripping action of theresilient head 22 and the upper end 19 of the body 18 upon the hook 14.

Slightly below the hook 14 and projecting laterally is a bridge 26,having an arcuate underportion 27, joining the pad 12 with an upper end28 of a laterally and downwardly projecting hand-gripping extension 29.Within the hand-gripping extension 29 is an aperture 30 for receiving afinger, preferably circular or oval in shape.

It is apparent that the aperture 30 may be enlarged to accommodate twoor more fingers for ease in holding the filled cup 15. In addition itmay be desirable, in certain cases, to omit the aperture 30. In suchinstances, the then solid extension 29 would be grasped between thethumb and forefinger when holding the cup.

Except for the upper end 28 of the extension 29, which is joined to thepad 12 by the bridge 26, the extension is spaced from the pad 12. Thisspacing 36 serves a number of functions which will be describedhereinafter.

FIG. 3 illustrates a prime use for which the space 36 may be utilized,e.g. nesting of a plurality of cups 15 having handles 16 securedthereto. As each cup 15 is nested within another, the rolled head 22slides into the space 36 until it abuts the arcuate underportion 27 ofthe bridge 26. In this way a minimum amount of space may be taken up forshipping and storing the cups 15, the only spacing between cups 15, morethan'in the usual disposable cup, being the Vertical thickness of thebridge 26.

It is obvious that the further the extension 29 lies from the cup 15 thegreater will be insulation protecting the fingers holding the handle 10from any hot liquid con- 3 tained within the cup 15. The cup 15 willthus be much more easily'and comfortably held by the consumer.

In addition, when a single finger is used to hold the handle 10, it isquite common to place the next finger forward, toward the ,cup 15, toprovide additional balance when lifting the cup 15. Thus the spacing 36between the pad 12 and the extension 29 will also partially accommodatethis finger for balancing the filled cup 15, while still providing thelower part of thepad 12 for insulation of the finger from the cup Wall18. 7

Another factor that makes the handle it) more useful when the cups 15are nested, is that the handle may beemployed to separate eachindividual cup from the stackmore easily. This easy separation isfurther enhanced due to the spacing between adjacent cups resulting fromthe bridge 26 and the pad 12, which prevent excessive frictionalengagement between the contacting walls 1 8 of adjacent cups 15.

When a filled cup 15 is lifted it is apparent that various forces actupon the handle 10 and the cup 15, with various points of principalstress. As the cup 15 is lifted, the stresses are primarily concentratedat the bridge 26 and upon the inner. portion of the bead 22, the latterbeing exerted by the hook 14. There is also some stress being applied tothe wall 180f the cup 15 by the lower area of the pad 12 which is incontact with the surface 17 of the wall 18.

However, when the cup 15 is tipped as it is brought up to the humanlips, using the line of the upper end 28 of the extension 29 as theaxis, the directions of the forces change as a torque-like action isbrought into play. There is then a tendency for the pad 12 to slidealong the surface 17 and for the hook 14 to slide out and be disengagedfrom, its fit between the upper end 19 of the body 18 and the innerportion 20 of the rolled bead 22.

'It is at. this point that the adhesive securing the pad 12 to thesurface 1 7 comes into play. Unless the bond is firm, thepad 12 willslide and the hook 14 will'disengage from its position between the bodyend '19 and the inner portion 20 of the rolled bead 22, resulting inseparation of the handle 1!) from the cup'15.

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 4, an arm 38,integral with a lower segment. of the hand-gripping'extension 29projects downwardly and inwardly toward the handle pad 12. However, thearm 38 is spaced from the pad'12. Also, the arm 38 has a springlikeaction.

This arm 38 serves a number of functions which further facilitate theuse of the handle 10. First, the arm 38 acts as an additionalstabilizing fo'rce'for the stresses placed upon the, areas where thehandle 10 and the cup 15 are secured when the filled cup 15 is raised.As the filled cup 15 is lifted, an area '42 on the resilient arm 38: isforced against the lower part of the handle pad 12, thus balancing someof the force exerted by thehook 14 upon the bead22 and relieving some ofthe stress placed upon the bridge 26 Furthermore, the arm '38 serves asa rest for one or more of the holders fingers that do not engage theextension 29. This tends to'fu'rther assist in balancing the filled cup15 and removing the holders hand further away from the hotliquidcontents of the cup.

The arrn 38"does not interfere with the nesting feature of the handledcupssince there is a spring-like resilient action in the arm '38,'whichincreases the already present spacingfbetwee'n the area 42 and the pad12, when a rolled bead'22 at the top of a cup 15 is pushed through thespace 36 for nesting the cups 15. Also, the curve 44 in the arm assistsin providing a smooth movement when nesting a plurality of cups, andminimizes the chance of snagging a cup bead 22 with the arm 38.

In certain instances Where it may be desirable to minimize the amount ofmaterial needed in the handle 10,

4 sections of the hand-gripping extension 29 and arm 38 may be hollowedout, from the outside in, to form a somewhat I-beam cross-section,without materially reducing the strength of the section. A prime areafor this would be the top 28 of the extension 29, which does not carryany appreciable load during lifting or drinking.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: I V

1. A handle for attachment to the body of a disposable cup, the open endof which bodyis rolled outwardly to form a peripheral bead, comprising:a

a substantially rigid handle pad'whose outer surface is adapted to liealong and be adhered to the outer surface of the cup body; the upper endof said pad terminating in an upwardly extending curved hook adapted tofit between the upper end of said body and the inner portion of saidbead; a I

a bridge joining said pad with the upper end of a hand grippingextension; I

said bridge having a shaped underportion adapted to receive the bead ofa second cup when aplurality'of cups are nested in a stack; and

said hand-gripping extension projecting laterally from said pad anddepending from said bridge, and being spaced from said pad below saidbridge and adapted to be grasped for holding said cup.

2. The handle of claim 1 wherein said handle pad outer surface isslightly concave so as to conform to a curved cup body.

3. The handle of claim 1 wherein said hand-gripping extension has anaperture therein adapted for receiving a finger.

4. The handle of claim l wherein an arm, integral with a lower segmentof said hand-gripping extension, extends d'ownwardly and inwardly towardsaid pad, and is spaced from said pad so that a plurality of handledcups may be nestably stacked.

5. The handle of claim 4 wherein said arm terminates in a curvesuch thatthe terminus of said arm is spaced further from said pad than theclosest point of said arm.

6. In combination:

a disposable cup having a tubular body with an outwardly rolled bead atits open end and a substantially rigid handle secured to said cup;

said handle comprising a substantially rigid handle pad having aslightly concave outer surface and terminating at its upper end in anupwardly extending hook;

said outer surface being adhered to the outer surface of said tubularbody and said hook fitting tightly between the upper end of said bodyand the inner portion of said bead;

abridge joining said pad slightly below said hook, with the upper end of,a hand-gripping extension;

said bridge having an arcuate underportion adapted to receive the beadof a second'cup when a plurality of cups is nested in a stack; and

said hand-gripping extension projecting laterally from said pad anddepending from said bridge, while said extension is spaced from said padbelow said bridge and is adapted to be grasped for holding said cup.

Koons Feb. 4, 1936 Kayat Dec. 25, 1956

6. IN COMBINATION: A DISPOSABLE CUP HAVING A TUBULAR BODY WITH AN OUTWARDLY ROLLED BEAD AT ITS OPEN END AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID HANDLE SECURED TO SAID CUP; SAID HANDLE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID HANDLE PAD HAVING A SLIGHTLY CONCAVE OUTER SURFACE AND TERMINATING AT ITS UPPER END IN AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING HOOK; SAID OUTER SURFACE BEING ADHERED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TUBULAR BODY AND SAID HOOK FITTING TIGHLY BETWEEN THE UPPER END OF SAID BODY AND THE INNER PORTION OF SAID BEAD; 